Name: Crouch, Mary Ellen.
E-mail: the-moe@swbell.net
Topic: Historical Perspective and the contributions to the development of
national and world-view of Arkansas
Grade: 10-12
Time: 1-2 days
Ark. Hist. Framework: 6.1.8 and 5.1.12 and 3.1.14
Objective: To wrap up the study or Arkansas History. Discussion with
students of our history, true and false, and affects on our national and world
view.
Set: Begin with questions like: How many of your are proud to be from
Arkansas? How many of you know people outside of Arkansas who make fun of
you for being from here? Then ask why is that? What have we learned
in Arkansas History, that would make the rest of the nation and world, even, to
see us in this negative way?
Materials: Moby Dick, by Herman Melville--reference to Arkansas Hornet's
nest by Patricia Cornwall--reference to Little Rock
Movie scenes
Newspaper headlines/articles: Arkansas Gazette and Democrate; Arkansas
Democrat Gazette; New York Times; USAToday. The USAToday and NY Times
can be searched on their internet. The archives are avaliable, keywork search:
Arkansas.
Postcards of Arkansas: Showinig our Natural beauty; making fun of
Arkansas; of places to visit.
Key Terms: Bowie Knife, Bill Clinton, Gov. Mike Huckabee, Cummings Prison;
Little Rock Central High, being a Confederate Slave state.
Key Facts: How people and events have shaped our image, and discuss them.
We have less tourism dollars than the state of Rhode Island
Activities: Class discussion on how our history has us viewed. Discuss how
the students feel about it. Do they see our state image as a problem? What
do they see our state image as? Discuss how they can help to change
it. The students will then decide to a poster, commercial, design
postcards, etc., on their personal state theme, and how they want people to see
Arkansas
Closure: After discussion ends, have them write down their state
theme. Then discuss with them how they will share that with the
class. They may choose to create a poster; video a commercial; design a
set of 4 postcards; other ideas.
Assessment: The projects will be for a grade. The teacher decides the
rubric
Resources: See materials
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